I just returned from selling at the Juried Art Providence Holiday Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island.  What a great mix of talented artists in the areas of jewelry, textiles, paintings, mixed media, and sculpture!  I feel very honored to be amongst professional artists, many of whom attended various art schools, including the local RISD.  A big thank you to my fellow artisans, the show organizers, my husband (without whom I couldn't possibly set up and break down my booth!), and most of all my customers for a great show!  The enthusiasm people show regarding my quirky pieces always helps to energize me to keep creating!  Here are some photos of my booth as well as of my sold items.

Gallery of sold items at the fair:

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A couple of years ago I made a handful of Christmas Baskets using beautiful woven baskets which I filled with various vintage/new/handmade Christmas-themed items or toys.  I call them 'heirloom" baskets as they are meant to be a staple of one's Christmas decor and can be passed down through the generations.  After noticing how well-received they were at the recent Morristown Craftmarket, I decided to make more.  Here is the original very large, deluxe one I sold at that market and that inspired me to make more:

Following are 2 photos, dimensions, and prices of each basket I recently made and are available for sale.  If interested, please e-mail me at shenshep@yahoo.com and I can send more photos.  I probably won't list in my Etsy shop ShenVintageCreations until after the Art Providence Holiday Show in which I will be selling as a vendor (held at the Providence, RI Convention Center, December 8-9, 10AM-6PM Saturday and 10AM-5PM Sunday (I will be booth #117)).

One-of-a-kind "Seasons Greetings" signed Longaberger basket with mohair jointed Panda Bear, Angel, decorated Tree and wooden ornaments.  Can either hang or sit on shelf.  9.5"W X 13"H X 5"D.  Price: $130. 

One-of-a-kind hanging "25 Days until Christmas" signed Longaberger basket with jointed mohair blue-tinged bear, embossed Heidel chocolates tin, wooden Pinocchio toy from Italy, 5 glass blown ornaments, chenille Santa holding a tree, wooden soldier and snowman ornaments, red & gold wired ribbon bow and beautiful tag with vintage Santa graphics.  14"W X 14"H X 7.5"D.  Price:  $140.

One-of-a-kind "Glad Tidings" Red, White and Blue signed Longaberger basket with patriotic décor (flags, red/white/blue glass blown ornament, red/white/blue braided trim).  Has teddy bear, vintage flocked dog, 4 glass blown ornaments, porcelain cup and saucer, decorated tree, handmade cotton batting santa and red/gold wired ribbon bow and 3D cardboard card that says, 'Glad Tidings."  9.5"W X 15"H X 7.5"D.  Price:  $160.

One-of-a-kind woven basket, "Angels," with collectible German Steiff mohair polar bear, Angel, wooden Pinocchio made in Italy, vintage porcelain cup and saucer, decorated tree with wooden angel atop, wooden soldier on rocking horse and wooden accordionist, metal antique car, gold fabric star.  This can either hang or sit on shelf.  7.5"W X 11"H X 7 "D.  Price:  $140.

One-of-a-kind "Happy Holidays" signed Longaberger basket with collectible German Steiff mohair mouse, made-in-Italy wooden Pinnocchio toy, wooden soldier and sledder, 2 glass blown ornaments, white decorated tree, red and green braided trim, hand-crocheted red bow, "Happy Holidays" 3D gift tag.  This piece can either sit on shelf (and have Pinocchio do the splits), or hang.  8"W X 12.5"H X 5.25"D.  Price:  $125.

One-of-a-kind "Joy!" hanging basket with large decorate green tree, handmade cotton batting Santa holding mushrooms, "Joy" written with vintage wood blocks, 2 hand blown glass ornaments, large wired tan ribbon bow, fancy tassel trim, gold beaded garland.  10"W X 22"L (including the garland) X 7.75"D.  Price: $98. 

One-of-a-kind "Merry Bright" basket with large decorated green tree, teddy bear, porcelain doll, flocked lamp with wood cart, wrapped presents, glass blown ornaments, scrumptious red and gold tassel trim, red wired ribbon bow, and 3D "Merry Bright" gift tag.  This can either hang or sit on a shelf.  11.5"W X 16"H x 8.5"D.  Price:  $150.

One-of-a-kind "Happy Holidays" lidded Basketville basket made in Putney, Vermont stuffed with mohair jointed Teddy bear, wooden lithographed soldier, large green decorated tree, 2 chenille candy canes, porcelain pitcher, vintage metal airplane and car, 3 glass-blown ornaments, red beaded garland, and deluxe red damask ribbon bow.   11/5"W X 19"H X 8.25"D.  Price:  $190.

One-of-a-kind "Santa" basket to sit on shelf (does not hang).  "Santa" is written with vintage wood blocks.  Stuffed with collectible German Steiff mohair polar bear, chalkware Santa, porcelain cup and saucer, 3 glass blown ornaments, wooden Santa on skis, and decorated with red netting, green buttons and pearls.  Also has red and gold fabric star.  14"H X 9.5"W X 8"D.  Price:  $160.

One-of-a-kind "Merry Elf" basket to sit on shelf (does not hang).  Handled woven basket with wood bottom filled with vintage porcelain sitting elf, chalkware Santa with feather tree and wreath on head, porcelain floral sugar bowl, green decorated Christmas tree, pinecone, 2 shimmery silver ornaments, and glass blown spherical ornament with gold Dresden embellishment and Santa face.  Large gold shimmery ribbon bow, red ribbon.  6"W X 10.5"H X 8.5"D.  Price:  $110.

One-of-a-kind stuffed large hanging paper cone.  Can hang on wall, interior door or door knob.  Handmade cone made from acid free paper with 1950s Santa graphics and trimmed with brass button, red braided trim and deluxe red beaded tassel and handle.  Stuffed with flocked teddy bear, handmade cotton batting Santa holding paper USA flag, wooden Pinocchio from Italy, 2 glass blown ornaments, wooden soldier on rocking horse, and green decorated tree with paper Nutcracker Mouse King at top.  24"L X 7"W X 5.5"D.  Price:  $80.

One-of-a-kind stuffed large hanging paper cone.  Can hang on wall, interior door, or from door knob.   Cone is handmade from dark green acid free cardstock with Victorian era Christmas card imagery and embellished with red and gold tasseled and braided trim, green tassel, green diaphanous bow, and paper poinsettias.  The cone is stuffed with handmade cotton batting Santa holding a "believe" charm, wooden Pinocchio from Italy, artificial berries, green decorated tree with paper Nutcracker at top.  23"L X 7"W X 5.5"D.  Price:  $80.

If you are interested in seeing my other Christmas décor for sale, press on the link for each:
Cotton Batting Santas
​Tabletop Décor

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​Happy Holidays! 

 I was very pleased to be included as a vendor at the recent juried Morristown Craftmarket in the Armory in Morristown, NJ.  I met lots of interesting people, both customers and artists.  I am always amazed at the artistic talent that I see at these juried fairs! 

​My husband grew up in Morristown, so it was fun for him to visit his old stomping grounds while I spent the day showing people my whimsical and quirky assemblage animals, dolls, Day of the Dead, Santas and Christmas baskets.   

My husband and I worked a lot on improving the practicality and cohesiveness of my booth display and I was really pleased with how it turned out.  His engineering background really came in handy in making me my new completely collapsible step-down platforms on which to display my sculptures, as well as in coming up with an idea for displaying my hanging pieces.  Also, this was the first time that I added lights to my display.  While the lights look a little like alien arms, I thought they helped a lot to brighten the displays.  My banner is also new.  I plan to get an area rug for the next upcoming fair (ArtProvidence Holiday Fair in Providence RI at the Providence Convention Center, December 8-9, 2018).  Here are photos of my new and improved booth:

On Friday night Kevin Coughlin, a local newspaper journalist/photographer came around and took some photos of my creations and casually spoke with me.  I was delighted to hear from a customer on Sunday that he had actually featured me in his plug about the Craftmarket in the online Morristown Green newspaper.  The article, entitled, "Whoopie Pies, Scary Therapy Among Highlights of Morristown Craftmarket, Through Oct 21" mentions me both at the beginning and at the end of the article (I'm the "scary" therapy!).  Click on the link above to read the article and see the photos he included.

Thank you so much to the many admirers of my one-of-a-kind creations!  Here are photos of just some of the pieces that sold:​

LuLu the Ballerina Giraffe

On my way home from Morristown to Pepperell, MA, I stopped by the gallery The Eclectic Collector in Katonah, NY and refreshed some of my pieces there.  These are the pieces that are now available for purchase there:

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I have been busy preparing for two upcoming Juried Art shows:  Morristown Craftmarket in Morristown, NJ the weekend of October 19-21 and Art Providence Holiday Show in Providence, RI the weekend of December 7-9.  I have made several new pieces.  This blog will focus on my assemblage dolls that are made from teapots, china jars, vases or urns and use antique doll heads and sometimes arms and/or legs.  Some of them are sitting, while others are standing or even walking their dog!  They range in size from mini to huge.

Lille (Doll) et Belle (Dog)

Eleanora (Doll) & Luella (Dog)

Sadie (Doll) & CoCo (Dog)

My fashionable ladies walking their dogs together.

Anastasia
(She has a locket with photos of her Husband and Daughter)

Conchita​

Peg and Her Pearls

All of these dolls are for sale, so if you are interested in one, please e-mail me at shenshep@yahoo.com to ask for more photos and prices.  I am not listing them in my Etsy shop just yet as I want to save them for the two art shows.  If you have an opportunity to come and see my art work face-to-face at one of these shows, I would be delighted to show them to you in great detail.

​As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog!  If you are interested in signing up for my newsletter, please click on this link here which will take you to my homepage.

When I found out that a local museum was hosting a two month long juried exhibition of regional artists' work, I decided to submit the maximum two pieces for possible inclusion.  I submitted my one-of-a-kind giraffe ballerina, "LuLu." She is made with a porcelain Giraffe-head pitcher, antique tins, Victorian-era wood industrial bobbins, brass incense burner, brass clock pendulum, brass embossed embellishments, a drawer knob and ribbons :​

I also submitted my one-of-a-kind Asian cat assemblage, "Empress in Training." She is made with a 1930s Redware cat head ashtray (cigarette would rest on the tongue and ashes collect inside the mouth), a matching Redware cat figurine, a large Asian tea tin, vintage wood industrial bobbins, furniture castors, large metal coat hook, brass incense burners, wood curtain ring and embossed brass embellishment.  The concept is that the mother and current Empress is training her daughter to inherit the title.

The show was juried by Francine Weiss, the Senior Curator at the Newport Art Museum (Newport, RI). Prior to NAM, she served as Curator at the Photographic Resource Center in Boston and Editor for Loupe journal. Weiss received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College and her Doctorate from Boston University. 

I was away traveling in France (lucky me!) when the results were announced.  I was so pleased to hear that "L:uLu" was chosen to be in the show!  Unfortunately I had to miss the heavily attended Opening Celebration on June 22, but as soon as I returned, I visited the museum on July 7.  When I saw the other art, I felt very honored to have my piece chosen to be in this show with so many talented artists!  

"Twin Trees, Winter Solstice Diptych" by Kim Cunningham, Hancock, MA

And here are some of the prize winners:

For a local museum in a small city, the Fitchburg Art Museum is really quite impressive!  Here are photos from some of their other exhibitions currently on display:

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For the fourth time in a row, my whimsical assemblage sculptures were published in the specialty magazine, Just Steampunk!  ​This latest Vol. 10 just came out November 28, 2017 and can be purchased directly through Scott Publications 1-800-458-8237.  It also can be found on the magazine shelves of some Michael's and A. C. Moore craft stores.  My 8 items are featured on pages 49, 50 and 51.  This magazine focuses on everything steampunk, from clothing, assemblage dolls and animals, jewelry and paper arts.  It usually publishes once per year, but this year 2 volumes came out.  My items were also featured in Vol 9 which was published in July 2017.  Enjoy!

​Here are links to my 3 other blogs about the other publications.  These publications have far more pages of my work:
Published in Just Steampunk! Vol 7
Published in Just Steampunk! Vol 8
​Published in Just Steampunk! Vol 9

I feel so honored to have 12 of my assemblage sculptures featured for a third year in a row in the specialty magazine, Just Steampunk!  This is Volume 9 and can be purchased directly through www.scottpublications.com.  I'm particularly pleased that one of my dogs, "Red Rover," was put on the editorial page.  Last year, one of my dogs, "Domino," made it onto the front cover!  Volumes 7 & 8, which can also be purchased through that website, featured a total of 55 of my creations.  Here are the links to my blogs on those publications:
​Published in Just Steampunk! Vol. 8 Magazine
​Published in Just Steampunk! Vol. 7 Magazine

Here are photos of the front cover and the editorial page of Volume 9:

Here are 4 of my china dolls featured on pages 46-47:

Here are 4 of my cats featured on pages 48-49:

Here are 5 of my dogs featured on pages 50-51:

Of these 12 sculptures published, only 2 are still for sale.  The doll with an upside down blue margarita glass named "Ball Gown Bella" is for sale through the gallery, Lenox Print and Mercantile, in Lenox, MA.  The boxer pair, "Mr. and Mrs. Boxley," are for sale through my etsy.com shop, ShenVintageCreations.

​Just Steampunk! is a fun magazine with a lot of creative mixed-media 3D and assemblage art, jewelry, fashion, and home décor, all inspired by steampunk style.  I first discovered this once-a-year publication at Michael's Craft Store, although I haven't been able to consistently find it there.  As always, thanks for looking at my blog!

​Please sign up for my e-mail newsletter list on my homepage to receive periodic updates on my blogs, publications, new pieces and upcoming shows.
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Another story that reflects the importance of following up on marketing ideas.  I was visiting Palo Alto, California 2 years ago (my old stomping grounds as I grew up on the Stanford University Campus since my father was a Professor).  My friend and I met at an outdoor café at the wonderful Town and Country Village Shopping Center when I noticed this delightful Equestrian-themed store called ELLA (which stands for Equestrian Luxury Lifestyle Art).  I immediately thought of my horse sculptures as a possibility for this boutique but I never followed up at the time because I got preoccupied with other things. 

​Fast forward to 3 weeks ago when I received an e-mail from the store inviting me (as a customer) to their pop-up shop at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton, CA.  It reminded me that I'd never reached out to them as an artist, so I put together an e-mail with 3 cowboy/cowgirl/pony photos and links to specific pages on my website and sent it off, hoping I would pique their interest in my sculptures for their store.  Low and behold I did indeed capture their interest, and have just sent off 11 of my sculptures for their shop (and to arrive in time for their special pop-up shop in Atherton!).  What's particularly interesting is that they only chose 2 of my horse pieces--they indicated that while they get a lot of horse lovers in their shop, they also get walk-ins from the general shopping center as well as family and friends of the horse lovers who are looking for something different--possibly my other whimsical animal sculptures!  Here are photos of the pieces that will soon be available at ELLA, Town and Country Village, 855 El Camino Real, #109, Palo Alto, CA  94301, 650-656-9949.  I'm going to particularly miss Professor Frogophile--he had a special place in my heart.  

After 5 months of very little marketing or production of new pieces, I am back with a bang!  I suffered the horror of the shingles virus for the entire month of May (I advise all to discuss with your doctor the feasibility of getting the shingles vaccine as it is truly a horrible illness that can cause excruciating nerve pain (and when I say excruciating, I mean I'd rather go through childbirth again over this illness!)).

I travelled to Great Barrington, MA in the beautiful Berkshire mountains this past weekend to sell at the Berkshires Arts Festival July 1-3.  This was a high end juried art show featuring 200 vendors.  I must say I felt truly honored to be amongst these great artists who sold jewelry, textiles, paintings, photographs, pottery, hand-painted wood bowls, and furniture.  I made so many new artist friends from all over the Northeast and spoke to hundreds of interesting customers.  I always enjoy people's reactions to my quirky characters.  Most people say they have never seen anything like my creations and many laugh or smile while perusing my booth, which truly delights me.  As a psychologist, I like to joke that my art is therapy, not only for me as I create, but also for those who feel happy as they look at my whimsical and quirky characters.  Here are some pieces that I sold at the fair:

​Aside from enjoying a good show, I am very excited to say that I got into two new galleries!  I dropped these 12 pieces off at Evergreen Gallery in Great Barrington, MA yesterday.  Right after the gallery owner put some of my pieces in the window, I saw the actor Chris Noth, formerly of Law & Order and Sex in the City, emerge from the café next door and as he walked down the street, he stopped and looked at my window display!  How exciting! 

Here are the 9 pieces that Carlene from Lenox Print & Mercantile bought wholesale from me for her delightful store:

In addition to these wonderful developments, I returned home to find out that The Eclectic Collector Gallery in Katonah, NY had sold yet 3 more of my pieces (for a grand total of 22 since November!).  I am so thankful to be supported by gallery owners, other artists and, most of all, my customers!  Here are the 3 that just sold at The Eclectic Collector:   

I'd better go into production mode now that I've been depleted of my inventory!  Yay, what fun.

I'm back to creating after a two-month hiatus.  Inspired by my recent trip to Tucson, AZ, I decided to create a few new Southwestern style assemblages.  All of them use silver plate roll top butter dishes or vegetable dishes for the horse's bodies.  The horse heads are from salt or pepper shakers, and the various cowgirl, cowboy, Native American chief and Native American squaw bisque figures are vintage 1940s and "Made in Japan."  Each piece is uniquely adorned with various Western or Native American style accessories and some have gemstones for saddles and/or animal companions.  If you are interested in purchasing a piece, simply click on the photo and it will direct you to where you may purchase it!  Here they are: 

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